KATHMANDU, Oct 11: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has agreed to provide financial assistance worth US $305.75 million (about Rs 47 billion) for upgrading the East-West Highway, Prithvi Highway and the Karnali Highway.
The approved financial assistance package includes a loan of $285 million from ADB's ordinary capital resources, a grant of $20 million from the thematic fund on regional cooperation and integration of the Asian Development Fund (ADF), and $750,000 on technical assistance from ADB special fund.
Out of the amount, $245 million will be spent on the expansion of the Narayanghat-Hetaunda road section and $30 million on the Mugling-Ambukhaireni road section, while the remaining $10 million will be used for improving the Karnali highway. A total of $20 million from the grant will be used to construct a viaduct in the Tikauli forest under the Narayanghat-Hetaunda section.
Arnaud Cauchois, ADB's country director for Nepal, said the project will revitalize one of Nepal's important transport routes. According to him, the project will improve transport links for the general public, businesses and the tourism sector, as well as help restore wildlife movement routes.
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"By combining resilient infrastructure with wildlife-friendly structures, this project demonstrates how investments in transport infrastructure can help improve connectivity, support biodiversity conservation, promote sustainable development and achieve inclusive economic growth," Cauchois said.
Out of the three projects that will be operated through ADB's concessional loan, a contract has been called for the upgrading about 70 km of the Narayangadh-Hetauda section of the East-West Highway under the 'South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation' (SASEC) Highway Improvement scheme. The project plans to expand the road, which currently has two lanes, to four lanes.
According to the Road Department Project Directorate of ADB, the contract has been divided into three packages for the section from Rapti Bridge in Hetauda to Gondrang in Bharpur, Chitwan. The first package is 40 km within Makwanpur district, 26 km from Makwanupar border to Tikauli in Chitwan and 4 km section from Tikauli to Gondrang is kept in the third package.
A 2 km long viaduct will be constructed in the Tikauli forest in this section which will be expanded to four lanes as per the Asian highway standard. It is estimated that the construction of the viaduct will cost around Rs 4 billion, of which $20 million will be provided by ADB.
It is Nepal's only biological corridor connecting the southern Chure range and the northern Mahabharata range. The region continues to extend into India's Valmiki Tiger Reserve, joining the Chitwan National Park.
There is a risk of accidents when wildlife crosses the road while driving at high speeds. A viaduct is also proposed in this area to prevent collisions between vehicles and wildlife. Vehicles drive over the viaduct while wildlife crosses the road under it.
There are plans to build 67 pillars on the two kilometer long viaduct. The pillar will stand at a distance of 30 meters. It is said that wild animals can easily cross the road between those pillars without hindrance.
Meanwhile, the Mugling-Pokhara road is about 90 km long. Extension work is being done on Ambukhaireni-Jamune section (41.45 km) and Jamune-Pokhara section (38.88 km) under this road. Along with the expansion of the Ambukhaireni-Pokhara section, the ADB’s road directorate planned to expand Mugling-Ambukhaireni as well. However, the area is full of geographical and structural complexity, according to the ADB.
ADB’s support is expected to help in the development of road network, regional trade, road safety and infrastructure that can face the risks of disasters and climate change. In addition, ADB said that it will also contribute to the protection of wildlife habitats.